U.S. patent application number 15/468894 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-26 for lighting apparatus for vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jun PARK.
Application Number | 20170305330 15/468894 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59051151 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170305330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Jun |
October 26, 2017 |
LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes a main lens; a light
source device configured to emit light; and a first reflecting unit
provided in a partial area of a front surface of the main lens. The
lighting apparatus also includes a scanning module configured to
reflect the light emitted from the light source device to the first
reflecting unit in a predetermined scanning pattern. The lighting
apparatus further includes a reflective fluorescent body configured
to convert a wavelength of light reflected by the first reflecting
unit and to reflect the light having the converted wavelength into
the main lens. The scanning module includes: a scanning unit
configured to be driven according to a predetermined frequency and
to reflect an incident light in the predetermined scanning pattern,
and a first light condensing device configured to condense the
light emitted from the light source device into the scanning
unit.
Inventors: |
PARK; Jun; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
59051151 |
Appl. No.: |
15/468894 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62314544 |
Mar 29, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S 41/176 20180101;
B60Q 2300/314 20130101; F21S 41/285 20180101; F21S 43/20 20180101;
F21S 43/31 20180101; F21S 45/70 20180101; F21S 41/255 20180101;
F21K 9/64 20160801; F21S 41/663 20180101; B60Q 1/0023 20130101;
G02B 2003/0093 20130101; B60Q 1/04 20130101; F21S 41/321 20180101;
G02B 2207/113 20130101; F21S 43/30 20180101; F21V 14/04 20130101;
F21Y 2115/30 20160801; F21V 7/05 20130101; F21S 41/25 20180101;
G02B 3/0037 20130101; F21S 41/125 20180101; F21S 41/37 20180101;
F21S 41/675 20180101; F21S 41/16 20180101; F21S 41/43 20180101;
F21S 45/48 20180101; F21S 41/365 20180101; B60Q 1/1423
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60Q 1/14 20060101
B60Q001/14; F21S 8/10 20060101 F21S008/10; F21V 14/04 20060101
F21V014/04; G02B 3/00 20060101 G02B003/00; F21V 7/05 20060101
F21V007/05; B60Q 1/00 20060101 B60Q001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0071942 |
Claims
1. A lighting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a main lens; a
light source device configured to emit light; a first reflecting
unit provided in a partial area of a front surface of the main
lens; a scanning module configured to reflect the light emitted
from the light source device to the first reflecting unit in a
predetermined scanning pattern; and a reflective fluorescent body
configured to convert a wavelength of light reflected by the first
reflecting unit and to reflect the light having the converted
wavelength into the main lens, wherein the scanning module
comprises: a scanning unit configured to be driven according to a
predetermined frequency and to reflect an incident light in the
predetermined scanning pattern, and a first light condensing device
configured to condense the light emitted from the light source
device into the scanning unit.
2. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
further comprising: an external sensor configured to collect
external information of a vehicle; and a control unit configured to
control the light source device based on the external
information.
3. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the first light condensing device comprises a light reducer
configured to: reduce a light width of the light emitted from the
light source device; and emit the light having the reduced light
width to the scanning unit.
4. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the scanning module further comprises a second light
condensing device configured to: condense the light reflected from
the scanning unit; and emit the condensed light to the first
reflecting unit.
5. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4,
wherein the first light condensing device and the second light
condensing device each comprise a secondary lens configured to
condense light.
6. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4,
wherein the second light condensing device is disposed so as not to
intersect an optical axis of the main lens.
7. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4,
wherein an optical axis of the first light condensing device and an
optical axis of the second light condensing device are
perpendicular to each other.
8. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the light source device comprises: a light source; and a
reflecting member configured to convert the light path of the light
emitted from the light source.
9. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the light source device, the reflective fluorescent body,
and the scanning module are disposed in a rear side of the main
lens.
10. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the reflective fluorescent body is disposed to face a rear
surface of the main lens.
11. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the reflective fluorescent body is disposed on an optical
axis of the main lens.
12. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
further comprising: a secondary light source disposed on a rear
side of the main lens; and a second reflecting unit that is
provided in the main lens and that is configured to reflect the
light emitted from the secondary light source.
13. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
further comprising: a third reflecting unit that is provided in a
partial area of a surface of the main lens and that is configured
to reflect, to a rear side of the main lens, a portion of the light
reflected from the reflective fluorescent body to the main
lens.
14. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 13,
wherein the third reflecting unit is provided on the surface of the
main lens at a position that is spaced apart from a position of the
first reflecting unit.
15. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 12,
wherein the secondary light source is disposed so as not to
intersect an optical axis of the main lens.
16. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 12,
wherein the secondary light source is configured to emit light in a
direction that is parallel to an optical axis of the main lens.
17. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 12,
wherein a distance between the light source device and the
secondary light source is smaller than a diameter of the main
lens.
18. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the first reflecting unit is disposed so as not to
intersect an optical axis of the main lens.
19. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein a front surface of the main lens has a convex shape, and
wherein a cross sectional shape of the first reflecting unit is an
arc shape.
20. The lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1,
wherein the first reflecting unit is a concave mirror formed in a
surface of the main lens.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of an earlier
filing date and right of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C.
365 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/314,544 filed on
Mar. 29, 2016 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0071942
filed on Jun. 9, 2016, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a lighting apparatus for a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Vehicles are typically equipped with a lighting device, such
as a lamp, that provides a driver with improved visibility or
informs the driver of an outside of a current state of the vehicle
by increasing intensity of illumination of the vehicle
surroundings.
[0004] A lighting apparatus installed in a vehicle may include a
head lamp which irradiates light to the front of the vehicle and a
rear lamp which displays, from the rear of the vehicle, a heading
direction of the vehicle or indicates a brake operation, or the
like.
[0005] A lighting apparatus for a vehicle may form various
illumination intensities, such as a low beam or a high beam in
securing visibility for a driver. Some lighting apparatuses
implement a light emitting diode (LED) which has a high power
efficiency and a long service life. In addition or as an
alternative, some lighting apparatuses implement a laser diode
having a long irradiation distance.
SUMMARY
[0006] Systems and techniques are disclosed that provide a lighting
device for a vehicle, and more specifically a light device for a
vehicle in which a scanning unit is provided that is configured to
adaptively scan light towards a front side of a vehicle.
[0007] In one aspect, a lighting apparatus for a vehicle may
include a main lens; a light source device configured to emit
light; and a first reflecting unit provided in a partial area of a
front surface of the main lens. The lighting apparatus may also
include a scanning module configured to reflect the light emitted
from the light source device to the first reflecting unit in a
predetermined scanning pattern. The lighting apparatus may further
include a reflective fluorescent body configured to convert a
wavelength of light reflected by the first reflecting unit and to
reflect the light having the converted wavelength into the main
lens. The scanning module may include a scanning unit configured to
be driven according to a predetermined frequency and to reflect an
incident light in the predetermined scanning pattern, and a first
light condensing device configured to condense the light emitted
from the light source device into the scanning unit.
[0008] In some implementations, the lighting apparatus may further
include an external sensor configured to collect external
information of a vehicle; and a control unit configured to control
the light source device based on the external information.
[0009] In some implementations, the first light condensing device
may include a light reducer configured to: reduce a light width of
the light emitted from the light source device; and emit the light
having the reduced light width to the scanning unit.
[0010] In some implementations, the scanning module may further
include a second light condensing device configured to: condense
the light reflected from the scanning unit; and emit the condensed
light to the first reflecting unit.
[0011] In some implementations, the first light condensing device
and the second light condensing device may each include a secondary
lens configured to condense light.
[0012] In some implementations, the second light condensing device
may be disposed so as not to intersect an optical axis of the main
lens.
[0013] In some implementations, an optical axis of the first light
condensing device and an optical axis of the second light
condensing device may be perpendicular to each other.
[0014] In some implementations, the light source device may
include: a light source; and a reflecting member configured to
convert the light path of the light emitted from the light
source.
[0015] In some implementations, the light source device, the
reflective fluorescent body, and the scanning module may be
disposed in a rear side of the main lens.
[0016] In some implementations, the reflective fluorescent body may
be disposed to face a rear surface of the main lens.
[0017] In some implementations, the reflective fluorescent body may
be disposed on an optical axis of the main lens.
[0018] In some implementations, the lighting apparatus may further
include: a secondary light source disposed on a rear side of the
main lens; and a second reflecting unit that is provided in the
main lens and that is configured to reflect the light emitted from
the secondary light source.
[0019] In some implementations, the lighting apparatus may further
include: a third reflecting unit that is provided in a partial area
of a surface of the main lens and that is configured to reflect, to
a rear side of the main lens, a portion of the light reflected from
the reflective fluorescent body to the main lens.
[0020] In some implementations, the third reflecting unit may be
provided on the surface of the main lens at a position that is
spaced apart from a position of the first reflecting unit.
[0021] In some implementations, the secondary light source may be
disposed so as not to intersect an optical axis of the main
lens.
[0022] In some implementations, the secondary light source may be
configured to emit light in a direction that is parallel to an
optical axis of the main lens.
[0023] In some implementations, a distance between the light source
device and the secondary light source may be smaller than a
diameter of the main lens.
[0024] In some implementations, the first reflecting unit may be
disposed so as not to intersect an optical axis of the main
lens.
[0025] In some implementations, a front surface of the main lens
may have a convex shape, and a cross sectional shape of the first
reflecting unit may be an arc shape.
[0026] In some implementations, the first reflecting unit may be a
concave mirror formed in a surface of the main lens.
[0027] All or part of the features described throughout this
disclosure may be implemented as a computer program product
including instructions that are stored on one or more
non-transitory machine-readable storage media, and that are
executable on one or more processing devices. All or part of the
features described throughout this disclosure may be implemented as
an apparatus, method, or electronic system that may include one or
more processing devices and memory to store executable instructions
to implement the stated functions.
[0028] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in
the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims. The description and specific examples below are given by
way of illustration only, and various changes and modifications
will be apparent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting
apparatus for a vehicle according to a first implementation;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to the first
implementation;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to the first
implementation;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
construction of a scanning unit;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scanned
pattern of an incident light on a reflective fluorescent body;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting
apparatus for a vehicle according to a second implementation;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a third
implementation;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to the third
implementation;
[0037] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a fourth
implementation;
[0038] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to the fourth
implementation;
[0039] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a fifth
implementation;
[0040] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a sixth
implementation; and
[0041] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light path
of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to the sixth
implementation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Some lighting apparatuses for vehicles implement adaptive
driving beam (ADB) technology that provides an improved field of
view and that improves driving safety by operating a high beam
feature without interfering with the vision of drivers in oncoming
vehicles. The ADB technology is sometimes implemented using a
matrix LED, which typically requires numerous LED components for
operation.
[0043] Implementations described herein provide a lighting
apparatus for a vehicle that implements adaptive beam-forming by
using a scanning feature to selectively control emission of light
from the vehicle. The lighting apparatus utilizes the scanning
feature to scan a pattern of light to be emitted from the vehicle.
By varying the intensity of the light at different portions along
the scanned pattern, the lighting device adaptively controls
illumination of different regions outside the vehicle.
[0044] According to some implementations, a lighting apparatus for
a vehicle implements a selectively controlled scanning feature. The
scanning feature utilizes a rotating reflective component that
enables directional control of light with a reduced number of
components as compared to, for example, matrix LEDs. In addition,
to achieve further reduction in size and number of components, the
lighting apparatus implements one or more reflecting units on the
surface of the main lens, rather than implementing a separate
optical component spaced apart from the lens.
[0045] Hereinafter, various implementations will be described in
detail with reference to the drawings.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a construction view schematically illustrating a
lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a first
implementation, FIG. 2 is a construction view schematically
illustrating a light path of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle
according to the first implementation, and FIG. 3 is a perspective
view schematically illustrating a light path of the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle according to the first implementation.
[0047] According to the first implementation, a lighting apparatus
for a vehicle may include a main lens 3, a light source device 1
from which light is emitted, and a first reflecting unit 21 which
is provided in a portion of the front surface 31 of the main lens
3. The lighting apparatus may also include a scanning module 8 that
reflects light emitted from the light source device 1 onto the
first reflecting unit 21 in a particular pattern by scanning the
light in a periodic repetitive manner. The lighting apparatus may
also include a reflective fluorescent body 4 which converts the
wavelength of the light reflected from the first reflecting unit 21
and then reflects the light to the main lens 3.
[0048] Preferably, the lighting apparatus for a vehicle may further
include a third reflecting unit 6 which is provided in a portion of
the surface of the main lens 3 and reflects the light reflected
from the reflective fluorescent body 4 to the main lens 3 to the
rear side of the main lens 3.
[0049] The lighting apparatus for a vehicle may constitute a head
lamp of the vehicle and may be used as a high beam lighting device
which generates a high beam or may be used as a low beam lighting
device which generates a low beam.
[0050] The light source device 1 is configured to emit light to the
scanning module 8, more specifically toward the first light
condensing device 81. The light source device 1 is configured to
emit light toward the first light condensing device 81. The light
emitted toward the first light condensing device 81 is condensed at
the first light condensing device 81 and then may be incident on
the scanning unit 80.
[0051] The light source device 1 may be disposed on the rear side
of the main lens 3.
[0052] The light source device 1 is configured to emit light toward
the rear surface of the first light condensing device 81.
[0053] The light which is incident on the rear surface of the first
light condensing device 81 from the light source device 1 is
condensed at the first light condensing device 81 and then may be
incident on the scanning unit 80.
[0054] The light source mechanism 1 may include the light source
10. The light source 10 receives the electric energy and may be
converted the received electric energy into light energy. The light
source 10 may be a light emitting source such as an ultra-high
pressure mercury lamp (UHV Lamp), a light emission diode (LED), and
a laser diode.
[0055] A light source 10 preferably is a light source which is
configured to be irradiated with light from a long distance while
having an excellent straightness and high efficiency. In some
implementations, the light source may be a laser diode. The laser
diode which is a light source 10 preferably is a laser diode which
irradiates with a blue based laser light having high
efficiency.
[0056] In some implementations, a heat radiation member which
radiates heat generated in the light source 10 may be connected to
the light source 10. The heat radiation member may include a
contact plate which is in contact with the light source 10 and a
heat radiation fin which is projected from the contact plate.
[0057] The light source device 1 may include a reflecting member 11
which reflects the light emitted from the light source 10 and then
converts the light path of the light.
[0058] The reflecting member 11 is disposed so that the incident
angle of the light is 45 degrees and then converts the light path
of the light emitted from the light source 10 to be vertical to the
incident angle.
[0059] According to the disposition of the reflecting member 11,
the light emitting direction to disposition position of the light
source 10 is configured to be changed and thus the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle can be made compact.
[0060] In a case where the light source device 1 includes both the
light source 10 and the reflecting member 11, the light emitted
from the light source 10 is configured to be reflected to the first
light condensing device 81 by the light path being converting at
the reflecting member 11. In a case where the light source device 1
includes the light source 10 and does not include the reflecting
member 11, the light emitted from the light source 10 is configured
to be emitted toward the first light condensing device 81.
[0061] In a case where the light source device 1 includes the
reflecting member 11, the light source 10 may emit the light to be
parallel to the optical axis X of the main lens 3.
[0062] The main lens 3 may have a greater size than the sizes of
the reflective fluorescent body 4 and the first reflecting unit 21.
The main lens 3 is configured to protect the reflective fluorescent
body 4 and the first reflecting unit 21 at the front side of the
reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0063] The main lens 3 may include a front surface 31 and a rear
surface 32. The main lens 3 may further include a perimeter surface
33 according to a shape of the main lens 3. The front side of the
main lens 3 can mean the front side of the front surface 31 of the
main lens and the rear side of the main lens 3 can mean the rear
side of the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0064] The main lens 3 may be a meniscus lens of which the front
surface 31 and the rear surface 32 have curvatures in the
directions with each other.
[0065] The main lens 3 may include a front surface 31 having a
convex shape and a rear surface 32 having a concave shape. More
specifically, the front surface 31 of the main lens 3 may have a
convex curved surface and the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3
may have having a recessed curved surface. At this time, the inner
portion of the recessed space of the rear surface 32 of the main
lens 3 may means the rear side of the main lens 3.
[0066] In a case where the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 is a
recessed curved surface, that is, a concave curved surface other
than a flat surface, an incident angle at which the light reflected
from the first reflecting unit 21 is emitted to the rear surface 32
of the main lens 3 may be decreased. Accordingly, an optical loss
by reflection generated at the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3
is reduced. In addition, the incident angle of light which is
reflected from the first reflecting unit 21 and passes through the
rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 on the reflective fluorescent
body 4 is reduced and thus the optical efficiency may be
increased.
[0067] The front surface (31) and/or the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 may be an aspherical surface.
[0068] The rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 may be a spherical
surface having the same curvature in all the portions of the rear
surface 32. The spherical surface has an advantages that
manufacture thereof may be easy, the cost of the manufacture may be
low and may be improved the sensitivity to the point at which the
light reaches the main lens 3, compared to the aspherical
surface.
[0069] The curvature of the rear surface 32 of main lens 3 may be
smaller than the curvature of the front surface 31 in order to
condense the white based light emitted from the reflective
fluorescent body 4.
[0070] The curvature of the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 may
be a curvature that the light reflected at the first reflecting
unit 21 is transmitted through the rear surface 32 of the main lens
3.
[0071] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 is provided in
the front surface 31 of the main lens 3, the light reflected at the
first reflecting unit 21 transmits through the rear surface 32 of
the main lens 3 and then may reach the reflective fluorescent body
4. In this scenario, a portion of the light reflected from the
first reflecting unit 21 is not transmitted through the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3 but may be reflected from the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0072] In this case, optical loss is generated, and there are
concerns that the eyes of the human suffer injury or the eyesight
of the human may be damaged by the blue based light of which the
wavelength is not converted at the reflective fluorescent body 4
being configured to be emitted to the front side of the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle.
[0073] Accordingly, it is preferable that the curvature of the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3 is a curvature through which the
light reflected from the first reflecting unit 21 is transmitted to
the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 so that the optical loss
which is generated by the light reflected at the first reflecting
unit 21 being reflected at the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3
is decreased.
[0074] More preferably, the curvature of the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 may be a curvature that an incident angle is 0 degrees
when the light reflected at the first reflecting unit 21 is
incident on the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3. At this time,
when the light reflected at the first reflecting unit 21 is
transmitted through the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3, a
refraction may not occur. Further, when the light reflected at the
first reflecting unit 21 is transmitted through the rear surface 32
of the main lens 3, the reflection occurred at the rear surface 32
of the main lens 3 may be minimized. Even if the reflection occurs
at the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3, the beam reflected at
the first reflecting unit 21 may be re-reflected at the first
reflecting unit 2 and thus may be not emitted to the front side of
the main lens 3.
[0075] The main lens 3 may include an optical axis X. Here, the
optical axis X of the main lens 3 may be rotating symmetric axis or
center axis of the main lens 3. The optical axis X of the main lens
3 may mean a straight line which passes through the centers of the
front surface 31 of the main lens 3 and the back surface 32 and the
main lens 3.
[0076] The lighting apparatus for a vehicle may further include a
projection lens 5 which is disposed on the front surface of the
main lens 3 for condensing light which is emitted from the front
surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0077] The projection lens 5 may have a greater size than the size
of the main lens 3.
[0078] The optical axis of the projection lens 5 can be matched
with the optical axis X of the main lens 3.
[0079] In order to improve the effect of condensing light, a
plurality of projection lens 5 may be provided and the optical axes
of the projection lens 5a and 5b may be matched with each
other.
[0080] In order to condense the spread out light, the diameter of a
second projection lens 5b disposed away from the main lens 3 may be
greater than the diameter of a first projection lens 5a disposed
adjacent to the main lens 3.
[0081] The projection lens 5 may include a front surface 51, a rear
surface 52, and a peripheral surface 53. The front surface 51 of
the projection lens 5 may be a convex curved surface toward the
front side. The rear surface 52 of the projection lens 5 may be a
flat surface.
[0082] The front surface 31 of the main lens 3 may have a convex
curved surface toward the front side and the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 may have a flat surface. At this time, the first
reflecting unit 21 may be attached to the front surface 31 of the
main lens 3.
[0083] In a case where the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 is
flat surface, since the inside of the rear surface 32 of the main
lens 3 is not empty unlike the meniscus lens, the optical loss
which is generated at the air layer may be reduced. Accordingly,
optical power may be relatively high and only one projection lens 5
may be provided.
[0084] In a case where the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 may
be a flat surface, machinability is excellent, manufacturing is
easy and cost may be reduced. Further, the size of the main lens 3
is decreased, the number of the projection lens 5 is decreased and
thus the lighting apparatus for a vehicle is configured to be
compact.
[0085] The reflective fluorescent body 4 may be disposed on the
rear side of the main lens 3 and allows light of which wavelength
of the light reflected at the first reflecting unit 21 is converted
and then reflected to the main lens 3.
[0086] Heat may be generated at the reflective fluorescent body 4
at the time of wavelength conversion of the light and thus
preferably is disposed to be separated from the main lens 3. The
reflective fluorescent body 4 is disposed on the rear side of the
main lens 3 to be spaced apart from the main lens 3.
[0087] The reflective fluorescent body 4 may be disposed on the
rear side of the main lens 3.
[0088] The reflective fluorescent body 4 may be disposed to be face
the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 and may reflect light toward
the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0089] The reflective fluorescent body 4 may be disposed on the
optical axis X of the main lens 3 and disposed to be spaced apart
from the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0090] The reflective fluorescent body 4 is configured to be
eccentrically disposed with respect to the optical axis X of the
main lens 3 in addition to being disposed on the optical axis X of
the main lens 3.
[0091] However, in this case, the efficiency is low because an area
through which light reflected at the reflective fluorescent body 4
in the main lens is transmitted is smaller than the area in a case
where the reflective fluorescent body 4 is disposed on the optical
axis X of the main lens 3. In other words, the reflective
fluorescent body 4 is preferably disposed to the optical axis X of
the main lens.
[0092] In addition, assembly of the lens 3 is improved at the
manufacturing of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle by the
reflective fluorescent body 4 being disposed on the optical axis X
of the main lens 3.
[0093] More specifically, if the reflective fluorescent body 4 is
not disposed on the optical axis X of the main lens, a correct
relative position between the main lens 3 and the reflective
fluorescent body 4 is set so that the light emitted from the
optical source 10 reach the reflective fluorescent body 4 and then
the main lens 3 and the reflective fluorescent body 4 have to
assemble with each other according to the correct relative
position. In other words, the assembly may be difficult.
[0094] Contrary to this, in a case where the reflective fluorescent
body 4 is disposed on the optical axis X of the main lens 3, the
optical axis X of main lens 3 may be matched with the center axis
of the main lens 3. Therefore, in this case, the assembly is
performed so that the reflective fluorescent body 4 is assembled
only the center axis of the main lens 3. In other words, the
assembly is relatively simple.
[0095] The reflective fluorescent body 4 may include a reflecting
unit for reflecting light and a wavelength conversion layer which
converts wavelength of light.
[0096] The wavelength conversion layer may face the rear surface 32
of the main lens 3 and the reflective unit may be disposed on the
rear side of the wavelength conversion layer.
[0097] The wavelength conversion layer may include a wave
conversion film and may include an opto-ceramic. The wavelength
conversion layer is configured to convert the wavelength of the
light reflected at the first reflecting unit 2 in a state of being
positioned at the front side of the reflecting unit.
[0098] When the blue based light is incident from the outside, the
wavelength conversion layer may be a wavelength conversion film
which converts into the yellow based light. The wavelength
conversion layer may include an opto-ceramic having yellow
color.
[0099] The reflecting unit may include a plate and a reflecting
coating layer which is coated the outside surface of the plate. The
plate made of a metal.
[0100] The reflecting unit may support the wavelength conversion
layer and light transmitted through the wavelength conversion layer
may reflect toward the rear surface of the main lens 3 by the
reflect unit.
[0101] When blue based light is reflected to the reflective
fluorescent body 4 by the first reflecting unit 21 in the surface
of the wavelength, a portion of the blue based light is
surface-reflected and the light which is incident on the inner
portion of the wavelength conversion layer among the blue based
light is configured to be excited in the inner portion of the
wavelength conversion layer. A portion of the blue based light
which is incident on the inside of the wavelength conversion layer
may convert into the yellow based light and may be reflected to the
front side of the wavelength conversion layer by the reflecting
unit.
[0102] The proportion that the blue based light which is incident
on the inside of the wavelength conversion layer is converted into
the yellow based light may be changed according to the proportion
of the Yag included on the wavelength conversion layer.
[0103] The blue based light and the Yellow based light which are
emitted to the front side of the wavelength conversion layer may be
mixed, and the white based light may be emitted to the front side
of the reflective fluorescent body 4. The white based light
transmits through the main lens 3 and then may be emitted toward
the front side of the main lens.
[0104] At this time, the white based light emitted to the front
side from the reflective fluorescent body 4 is spread out in a
radial shape toward the front side other than the laser beam having
the constant size and the directional nature. The main lens 3
disposed on the front side of the reflective fluorescent body 4 and
the projection lens 5 disposed on the front side of the main lens 3
may perform a role condensing the white based light which is
radiated.
[0105] The width in the longitudinal direction of the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle may be determined by the distance L1
between the reflective fluorescent body 4 and main lens 3.
[0106] The width in the longitudinal direction of the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle is lengthened and thus an optical
efficiency thereof is reduced when the distance L1 between the
reflective fluorescent body 4 and main lens 3 is too long. The main
lens 3 may be damaged by heat of the reflective fluorescent body 4
when the distance L1 between the reflective fluorescent body 4 and
the main lens 3 is too short.
[0107] Accordingly, preferably, the reflective fluorescent body 4
is closely disposed to the main lens 3 within the range in which
the damage of the main lens 3 by heat is minimized. The heat
radiating member 42 which assists to radiate heat of the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be disposed in the reflective fluorescent
body 4. The heat radiation member 42 may include a contact plate 43
which is in contact with the reflective fluorescent body 4, and a
heat radiation fin 44 which is projected from the contact plate
43.
[0108] In a case of a transmissive fluorescent body, the heat
radiation member should be disposed on a side surface or the border
of a transmissive fluorescent body, since a surface on which light
is incident and the other surface from which light is emitted are
different from each other. Accordingly, there is a problem which
the heat radiation is not efficiently performed since the contact
area between the heat radiation member and the transmissive
fluorescent body is narrow.
[0109] The contact plate 43 may be attached to the rear surface of
the reflective unit to be surface-contacted since the surface on
which light is incident and the surface from which is emitted
entirely same in the reflective fluorescent body 4 according the
present implementation. At this time, the heat radiation may be
effectively performed since a contact area between contact plate 43
and the reflective fluorescent body 4 is broad.
[0110] Meanwhile, the first reflecting unit 2 may be provided to
reflect the light which is emitted from the scanning module 8 to
the reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0111] The first reflecting unit 21 may be integrated with the main
lens 3 or may be provided separately from the main lens 3 to be
spaced apart from the main lens 3.
[0112] The first reflecting unit 21 may be determined the position
thereof according to an arrangement position of the reflective
fluorescent body 4. In a case where the reflective fluorescent body
4 is disposed on the rear side of the main lens 3, the first
reflecting unit 21 may be positioned on the rear side 32 of the
main lens 3 to be spaced apart from the main lens 3, may be
provided on the rear surface of the main lens 3, or may be
positioned on the front side 31 of the lens 3 to be spaced apart
from the main lens 3.
[0113] The first reflecting unit 21 allows the light emitted from
scanning module 8 to reflect between the reflective fluorescent
body 4 and the main lens 3, in a state where the first reflecting
unit 2 is provided on the rear side of the main lens 3 to be spaced
apart from the main lens 3.
[0114] The first reflecting unit 21 allows the light emitted from
the scanning module 8 to reflect between the reflective fluorescent
body 4 and the main lens 3, in a state where the first reflecting
unit 2 is provided on the rear surface of the main lens 3 to be
integrated with the main lens 3.
[0115] The first reflecting unit 21 allows the light transmitted
through the main lens 3 after being emitted from the scanning
module 8 to reflect to the main lens 3 to be reflected toward the
reflective fluorescent body 4, in a state where the first
reflecting unit 21 is provided on the front surface of the main
lens 3 to be integrated with the main lens 3.
[0116] The first reflecting unit 21 allows the light transmitted
through the main lens 3 after being emitted from the scanning
module 8 to reflect to the main lens 3 to be reflected toward the
reflective fluorescent body 4, in a state where the first
reflecting unit 21 is provided on the front surface of the main
lens 3 to be spaced apart from the main lens 3.
[0117] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 is provided the
rear side or the front side of the main lens 3 to be spaced apart
from main lens 3, the component number of the lighting apparatus
for a vehicle may be increased and the size of the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle may be increased by the separating distance
between the main lens 3 and the first reflecting unit 21 from each
other.
[0118] Preferably, the first reflecting unit 21 is provided in the
front surface 31 or the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 to be
integrated the first reflecting unit 2 and the main lens 3 in order
to minimized the component number of the lighting apparatus for a
vehicle and be made compact the lighting apparatus for a
vehicle.
[0119] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 is provided on
the entire rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 or the entire front
surface 31 of the main lens 3, the light of which wavelength is
converted and reflected in the reflective fluorescent body 4 may be
all reflected to the rear side of the main lens 3. In other words,
light is not emitted to the front side of the main lens 3 since the
wavelength of the light is converted in the reflective fluorescent
body 4.
[0120] Therefore, preferably, the first reflecting unit 21 is
provided on a portion of the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 or
on a portion of the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
Preferably, the first reflecting unit 21 has a size that the main
lens 3 is configured to secure a sufficient amount of the light
emitting area.
[0121] Preferably, the first reflecting unit 21 is disposed so as
not to be linearly aligned with the optical axis X of the main lens
3. Preferably, the first reflecting unit 2 is disposed at a
position between the optical axis X of the main lens 3 and the
perimeter surface 33 of the main lens 3, as illustrated in the
examples of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0122] The first reflecting unit 21 may be provided on a portion of
the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 or on a portion of the front
surface 31 of the main lens 3. The first reflecting unit 21 may be
provided to reflect the light emitted from the scanning module 8 to
the reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0123] The first reflecting unit 21 may reflect the incident light
to the rear side of the main lens 3.
[0124] Preferably, the first reflecting unit 21 may be positioned
considering the curvature of area to which the first reflecting
unit 21 is attached and the positional relationship between the
reflective fluorescent body 4 and the main lens 3.
[0125] In the present implementation, the first reflecting unit
body 21 may be attached to the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
At this time, the light emitted from the scanning module 8
transmits through the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 and then
reaches the first reflecting unit 21 and the light reflected at the
first reflecting unit 21 transmits through the rear surface 32 of
the main lens 3 again and then is incident on the reflective
fluorescent body 4.
[0126] The optical efficiency may be increased since the incident
angle on the reflective fluorescent body 4 of the light is reduced,
in a case where the first reflecting unit 21 is attached to the
front surface 31 of the main lens 3 than in a case where the first
reflecting unit 21 is attached to the rear surface 32 of the main
lens 3.
[0127] The wider light emitting area may be secured in a case where
the first reflecting unit 21 is attached to the front surface 31 of
the main lens 3 than in a case where the first reflecting unit 21
is attached to the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 when the
first reflecting unit 2 has a same size.
[0128] In other words, the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on some area of the front surface of the main lens 3 and light
emitted from the scanning module 8 may be transmitted through the
main lens 3 and then may be incident on the first reflecting unit
21. The light reflected at the first reflecting unit 21 transmits
through the main lens 3 and then is incident on the reflective
fluorescent body 4. The light of which the wavelength is changed by
the reflective fluorescent body 4 is transmits through the main
lens 3 and then may be illuminated to the front side of the main
lens 3.
[0129] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 is attached to
the front surface 31 of the main lens 3, the light is transmitted
three times through the main lens 3. More specifically, the light
emitted from the scanning module 8 transmits through the main lens
3 and then is incident on the first reflecting unit 21. The light
reflected from the first reflecting unit 21 transmits through the
main lens 3 and then is incident on the reflective fluorescent body
4. The light of which wavelength is converted and reflected from
the reflective fluorescent body 4 transmits through the main lens 3
and then emitted to the front side of the main lens 3.
[0130] Accordingly, the main lens 3 may be three-path lens through
which light is transmitted three times. The lighting apparatus for
a vehicle can be made compact by the three-path lens.
[0131] In a case where the main lens 3 is the three-path lens, the
beam may be not emitted to the front direction of the main lens 3
before the light emitted from scanning module 8 reaches the
reflective fluorescent body 4. Accordingly, the entire optical
device except for the first reflecting unit 21, for example, the
lighting device 1, the scanning module 8, and the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be disposed at the rear side of the main
lens 3.
[0132] Accordingly, the disposition of the optical components may
be facilitated, since an additional optical component that allows
light to be incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4 in the
front side spaced apart from the main lens 3 is not needed.
[0133] In other words, the manufacturing of the lighting apparatus
for a vehicle become facilitate, the replacement or the design
change of the light source device 1 the scanning module 8 to the
reflective fluorescent body 4 also becomes simple, and a further
provision of an additional optical device to the light source
device 1 and the scanning module 8 may be facilitated.
[0134] In addition, the main lens 3 and the projection lens 5 may
be disposed so that the distance between the main lens 3 and the
projection lens 5 may be reduced and thus the optical efficiency
and the light condensing effect of the projection lens 5 may be
increased, since an additional optical component that allows light
to be incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4 in the front
side spaced apart from the main lens 3 is not needed.
[0135] The first reflecting unit 21 is formed according to a
concave front surface 31 in a portion of a concave front surface 31
of the main lens 3 and the cross-sectional shape of the first
reflecting unit 2 may be formed as an arc-shape. The first
reflecting unit 21 may be a round shape or a polygonal shape when
viewed from the front side of the main lens 3.
[0136] The first reflecting unit 21 may be a concave mirror formed
on the front surface 31 of the main lens 3. The first reflecting
unit 21 may have a convex front surface and a concave rear
surface.
[0137] The front surface of the first reflecting unit 21 may face
the projection lens 5. The first reflecting unit 2 may be projected
by the main lens 3 and the projection lens 5 between the main lens
3 and the projection lens 5.
[0138] The first reflecting unit 21 may be a coating layer coated
on a portion of the front surface 31 of main lens 3 so as not to
intersect the optical axis X of the main lens 3.
[0139] The first reflecting unit 21 may be a reflective sheet
coated on portion of the front surface 31 of the main lens 3 so as
not to intersect the optical axis X of the main lens 3.
[0140] The reflective fluorescent body 4 is disposed on the optical
axis X of the main lens 3 and the scanning module 8 may emit light
in the parallel direction to the optical axis X of the main lens 3.
The first reflecting unit 21 may be disposed on the surface of the
main lens 3 so as not to intersect the optical axis X of the main
lens 3 so that the light emitted from the scanning module 8 reaches
the first reflecting unit 2.
[0141] The lighting apparatus for a vehicle may further include a
lens holder (not illustrated) which supports the main lens 3 and
the projection lens 5.
[0142] Meanwhile, the scanning module 8 may reflect the light
emitted from the light source device 1 toward the main lens 3 in a
particular pattern by using a repetitive scanning motion.
[0143] The scanning module 8 may be disposed on the rear side of
the main lens 3 and may emit light toward the rear surface 32 of
the main lens 3.
[0144] The scanning module 8 may include a first light condensing
device 81 and the scanning unit 80. The scanning module 8 may
further include a second light condensing device 82.
[0145] The first light condensing device 81 may condense the light
emitted from the light source device 1 and then allows the light to
be incident on the scanning unit 80.
[0146] In a case where the reflecting member 11 is included in the
light source device 1, the light emitted from the light source 10
is configured to be reflected to the first light condensing device
81 by the light path being converting at the reflecting member 11.
The light reflected at the reflecting member 11 may condense at the
first light condensing device 81 and then is incident on the
scanning unit 80.
[0147] In a case where the reflecting member 11 is not included in
the light source device 1, the light emitted from the light source
10 is configured to be incident on the first light condensing
device 81. The light being incident on the first light condensing
device 81 is condensing at the first light condensing device 81 and
then may be incident on the scanning unit 80.
[0148] The first light condensing device 81 may be light reducer
which allows the size of the light emitted from the light source
device 1 to be reduced and then emits the light to the scanning
unit 80. In a case where the first light condensing device 81 is a
light reducer, the scanning module 8 may not include a second light
condensing device 82. Hereinafter, detailed description regarding
this implementation will be described.
[0149] The first light condensing device 81 may be a secondary lens
which condenses the light emitted from the light source device
1.
[0150] In a case where the first light condensing device 81 is a
secondary lens, the light may be condensed so as to gather light to
a point at the scanning unit 80. Accordingly, the size of the
scanning unit 80 may be decreased.
[0151] In a case where the first light condensing device 81 may be
a secondary lens, since the light condensed at the scanning unit 80
is reflected and spreads out at the scanning unit 80, a second
light condensing device 82 at which condenses the light may be
implemented to mitigate this spreading effect.
[0152] The second light condensing device 82 may condense the light
which is converted the light path at the scanning unit 80 and then
reflected and then emit the light to the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3.
[0153] The second light condensing device 82 condenses the light of
which the light path is converted at the scanning unit 80 and then
allows the light to be incident on the rear surface 32 of the main
lens 3. This light may transmit through the main lens 3 and then be
incident on the first reflecting unit.
[0154] The second light condensing device 82 may be disposed
between the scanning unit 80 and the main lens 3.
[0155] Since the first reflecting unit 21 is provided on the
surface of the main lens so as not to intersect with the optical
axis of the main lens 3, the second light condensing device 82
which emits the light toward the first reflecting unit 21 may be
disposed so as not to intersect with the optical axis of the main
lens 3.
[0156] The second light condensing device 82 may be a secondary
lens which condenses the reflected light at the scanning unit 80.
The second light condensing device 82 may be configured to condense
the light so that the light which is reflected and spreads out at
the scanning unit 80 has a constant size and a directionality. The
light condensed and emitted at the second light condensing device
83 is incident on the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 and then
may be reflected from the first reflecting unit 21.
[0157] The optical axis of the first light condensing device 81 and
the optical axis of the second light condensing device 82 may be
perpendicular to each other. For example, the optical axis of the
first light condensing device 81 and the optical axis X of the main
lens 3 may be perpendicular to each other and the optical axis of
the second light condensing device 82 and the optical axis X of the
main lens 3 may be perpendicular to each other.
[0158] Since the scanning unit 80 to be described below implements
scanning operations according to the predetermined frequency, the
position of the light which is incident on the second light
condensing device 82 in the operating range of the scanning unit 80
may be changed. Accordingly, in order to condense the light, the
size of the second light condensing device 82 may be larger than
the size of the first light condensing device 81.
[0159] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a construction of
a scanning unit 80.
[0160] The scanning unit 80 may be, for example, a
micro-electro-mechanical system (Mems) scanner. The scanning unit
80 may have a structure which resonates and vibrates in a seesaw
manner to repeatedly scan a particular pattern of light.
[0161] By the scanning unit 80, a lighting apparatus for a vehicle
according to this implementation can implement a scanning feature
that scans a particular pattern of light.
[0162] The scanning unit 80 may be driven by any suitable
technique. For example, a device which allows the air to flow, such
as an ultrasound device or the like may be provided around the
scanning unit 80 and the scanning unit 80 may be driven by the flow
of the air generated by the device.
[0163] A driving coil may be wound around the scanning unit 80 and
a pair of magnets generating magnetic field may be disposed around
the scanning unit 80. The scanning unit 80 may be driven by
rotating moment generating according to the magnetic field by
current flowing through the coil and the pair of magnets.
[0164] The scanning unit 80 may be 2-axis drive type Mems scanner
which is driven in a vibrating manner with respect to the two axes
perpendicular to each other. The 2-axis drive type scanner may
generate a two-dimensional scanning pattern by independently
controlling rotation of the two axes.
[0165] The scanning unit 80 may include a reflector 800, a first
drive shaft 801, a second drive shaft 802, and a drive member 803.
More specifically, the scanning unit 80 may include a first drive
shaft 801 which is rotatable, a drive member 803 to the outside of
which the first drive shaft 801 is connected, a second drive shaft
802 which is rotatably connected to the inside of the drive member
803, and a reflector 800 which is connected to the second drive
shaft 802.
[0166] The reflector 800 may be a mirror which reflects the
incident light. The reflector 800 may be a circular or rectangular
mirror. The reflector 800 may be connected to the second drive
shaft 802.
[0167] The reflector 800 and the second drive shaft 802 may be
disposed in the inside of the drive member 803. More specifically,
the rotatable second drive shaft 802 may be connected to the inside
of the drive member 803 and the reflector 800 may be connected to
the second drive shaft 802.
[0168] The first drive shaft 801 may be connected to the outside of
the drive member 803.
[0169] The first drive shaft 801 and/or the second drive shaft 802
may be an elastic member configured to undergo torsional
deformation in the axial direction in order to elastically support
a rotating drive member 803.
[0170] The first drive shaft 801 and/or the second drive shaft 802
may be a rotating rigid body in which an additional rotating shaft
is provided.
[0171] The first drive shaft 801 may be connected to the outside of
the drive member 803. The first drive shaft 801 is configured to
rotate about the longitudinal direction of the first drive shaft
801.
[0172] The second drive shaft 802 may be connected to the inside of
the drive member 803 and to the reflector 800. The second drive
shaft 802 is configured to rotate about the longitudinal direction
of the second drive shaft 802. The second drive shaft 802 is
configured to independently rotate relative to the drive member
803.
[0173] The drive member 803 is supported by the first drive shaft
801 and may be rotated together with the first drive shaft 801 as
the first drive shaft 801 rotates. Accordingly, the drive member
803 is configured to rotate about the longitudinal direction of the
first drive shaft 801.
[0174] The reflector 800 is supported by the second drive shaft 802
and may be rotated together with the second drive shaft 802 as the
second drive shaft 802 rotates. The first drive shaft 201 and the
second drive shaft 802 are perpendicular to each other and
configured to independently rotate. As a result, the reflector 800
may be two-axis driven with respect to the first drive shaft 801
and the second drive shaft 802 which are perpendicular to each
other. Since reflector 800 is driven by external force according to
a predetermined frequency, the reflector 800 is configured to
rotate according to a predetermined frequency.
[0175] The scanning unit 80 may be driven independently of two
axes. In some implementations, the second drive shaft 802 is
rotated while not vibrating and the first drive shaft 801 may be
rotated while vibrating according to a predetermined frequency. In
other implementations, the first drive shaft 801 is rotated while
not vibrating and the second drive shaft 802 may be rotated while
vibrating according to a predetermined frequency.
[0176] The scanning unit 80 may move according to a predetermined
frequency, reflect the incident light and then convert the light
path. The scanning unit 80 may reflect the condensing light at the
first light condensing device 81, convert the light path and then
be incident light on the second light condensing device 82.
[0177] More specifically, the light which is incident on the
scanning unit 80 may be reflected from the reflector 800. The
reflector 800 is driven on two axes perpendicular to each other and
converts the light path by reflecting the incident light which is
incident on the reflector 800.
[0178] The light of which light path is converted by the scanning
unit 80 and then which is reflected may be condensed at the second
light condensing device 82 and then be incident on the rear surface
32 of the main lens 3. The light which is incident on the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3 transmits through the main lens, be
reflected from the first reflecting unit 21, and be incident on the
reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0179] FIG. 5 is a view schematically illustrating a path change of
an incident position in a reflective fluorescent body on which
light is incident.
[0180] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, the path change of
position at which the light reflected from the reflector 800
according to driving of the scanning unit 80, in particular, the
reflector 800 is incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4 will
be described.
[0181] Since the scanning unit 80 may be driven on the two axes
perpendicular to each other respectively, the path change of the
incident position P on the reflective fluorescent body 4 is
described in terms of a horizontal direction and a vertical
direction.
[0182] In some implementations, the incident position P of the
reflective fluorescent body 4 of light according to the rotation of
the first drive shaft 801 is configured to move in the horizontal
direction, and the incident position P of the reflective
fluorescent body 4 of light according to the rotation of the second
drive shaft 802 is configured to move in the vertical
direction.
[0183] In other implementations, the incident position P of the
reflective fluorescent body 4 of light according to the rotation of
the first drive shaft 801 is configured to move in the vertical
direction, and the incident position P of the reflective
fluorescent body 4 of light according to the rotation of the second
drive shaft 802 is configured to move in the horizontal direction.
Hereinafter, this case will be described, as an example.
[0184] Further, as described above, the first drive shaft 801 does
not vibrate but is rotated and the second drive shaft 802 may
vibrate according to a predetermined frequency and be rotated.
Hereinafter, this case will be described, as an example.
[0185] First, as shown in FIG. 5, the light reflected from the
reflector 800 may be incident on the right upper end area of the
reflective fluorescent body 4 via the path described above. The
second drive shaft 802 is rotated in one horizontal direction, and
thus the incident position P of light incident on the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be moved horizontally from the right side to
the left side. The first drive shaft 801 is not rotated and
therefore the incident position of the light does not move in the
vertical direction during this portion.
[0186] When the incident position of the light reaches the left
area of the reflective fluorescent body 4, the first drive shaft
801 is rotated vertically downward, resulting in the incident
position P of light on the reflective fluorescent body 4 being
moved vertically downward, as indicated by the curved portion in
the upper left hand side of FIG. 5. In addition, the second drive
shaft 802 begins to flip its rotation direction to rotate to the
right, resulting in the incident position P of the light starting
to move horizontally in the rightward direction along the curved
portion in the upper left hand side of FIG. 5.
[0187] When the incident position P of the light moves vertically
down on the reflective fluorescent body 4 by a predetermined
distance, the first drive shaft 801 stops its vertical downward
rotation, while the second drive shaft 802 continues to rotate in
the horizontal rightward direction. Accordingly, the incident
position P of the light on the reflective fluorescent body 4 moves
horizontally towards the right side but does not move in the
vertical direction.
[0188] Still referring to FIG. 5, when the incident position P of
the light reaches the right side area of the reflective fluorescent
body 4, the first drive shaft 801 which is in a state of stopping
may be rotated in the same direction as the previous direction
again and thus the incident position P of light incident on the
reflective fluorescent body 4 may be moved vertically downward. The
second drive shaft 802 flips its rotation direction again, and
begins rotating to the left, resulting in the incident position P
of the light reversing direction to begin moving back to the left,
as indicated by the curved portion in the right hand side of FIG.
5.
[0189] Still referring to FIG. 5, when the incident position P of
the light moves vertically downward in the reflective fluorescent
body 4 by a predetermined distance, the first drive shaft 801 stops
its vertical downward rotation, while the second drive shaft 802
continues to rotate in the horizontal leftward direction.
Accordingly, the incident position P of the light on the reflective
fluorescent body 4 moves horizontally to the left side but does not
move in the vertical direction.
[0190] As such, according to the implementation described above,
the first drive shaft 801 repeatedly alternates between rotating
downward by a fixed amount, stopping, rotating downward by the
fixed amount, stopping, etc., repeating this alternating
start-and-stop movement in the downward direction. The second drive
shaft 802 continuously rotates in an alternating manner left and
right horizontally according to a predetermined frequency.
[0191] As a result of this periodic motion of both the first and
second drive shafts 801 and 802, the incident position P of the
light on the reflective fluorescent body 4 follows a movement
pattern as illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0192] After following the movement pattern shown in FIG. 5, the
incident light on the reflective fluorescent body 4 reaches the
lower right-hand end area of the reflective fluorescent body 4. At
this time, the first drive shaft 801 may be vertically rotated to
return to its initial position, and thus the incident position P of
light incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4 may be moved to
the initial position. Hereinafter, the process described above can
be repeated from the beginning again to re-trace the movement
pattern shown in FIG. 5.
[0193] The reflective fluorescent body 4 may be larger than a range
which includes the movement path of the incident position P of the
light described above in order to stably reflect the incident
light.
[0194] By continuously re-tracing the pattern shown in FIG. 5, the
scanning unit 80 covers substantially the entire reflective
fluorescent body 4 with a path of the incident light, similar to a
space-filling curve. The incident light is then reflected from the
reflective fluorescent body 4 and emitted out from the front of the
vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7. As such, the movement
pattern of incident light generated by the scanning unit 80 shown
in FIG. 5 controls the light emission pattern out of the front of
the vehicle.
[0195] The scanning unit 80 may vibrate and rotate at a very fast
speed, resulting in fast repetitions of the movement pattern shown
in FIG. 5. As such, the fast repetitions of the light pattern shown
in FIG. 5 may result in the appearance, to a human eye, of a single
collective illumination emanating from the front of the
vehicle.
[0196] The description above and the specific pattern of incident
light movement shown in FIG. 5 is only an example, and
implementations are not limited to this. The movement path of the
incident position P of the incident light on the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be changed according to the driving method
of the first drive shaft 801 and the second drive shaft 802. For
example, the respective periodic movements of the first and second
drive shafts 801 and 802 may be exchanged, resulting in a movement
pattern that is a ninety-degree rotation of that shown in FIG.
5.
[0197] Using a movement pattern of incident light P on the
reflective fluorescent body 4, such as the one shown in FIG. 5, the
lighting apparatus may provide adaptive control of light emitted
from the head lamp. For example, the lighting apparatus may vary
the intensity of light in different portions of the light movement
path of FIG. 5 by coordinating the control of the light intensity
with the rotation of the scanning unit 80. This results in varying
intensities in different areas of the light emitted from the front
of the vehicle.
[0198] As a specific example, consider an example where the
lighting apparatus coordinates control of light source intensity
with control of the scanning unit 80 so as to reduce the intensity
of the light source whenever the scanning unit 80 reaches the first
curved portion in the upper-left side of the movement path in FIG.
5. In this scenario, the resulting effect on light emitted from the
front of the vehicle is to selectively reduce the intensity of
light emitted from the headlamp in a specific direction, namely to
reduce the intensity of light that is emitted towards a specific
direction ahead of the vehicle, while maintaining the intensity of
light in other directions ahead of the vehicle.
[0199] As such, the lighting apparatus may selectively control the
intensity of light that is illuminated from the front of the
vehicle to illuminate different areas ahead of the vehicle with
different intensities. Such selective directional illumination
control may be based on external information that is collected from
around the vehicle, as described next.
[0200] The lighting apparatus for a vehicle may include an external
sensor 90 which collects external information of a vehicle. The
lighting apparatus may also include a control unit 9 which controls
the light source device 1, particularly the light source 10, based
on the external information collected at the external sensor
90.
[0201] Hereinafter, since the lighting apparatus for a vehicle
provided the Mems scanner generally constitutes a head lamp of the
vehicle, this case will be described as an example. However,
implementations are not limited to this.
[0202] The external sensor 90 may be a camera. Preferably, the
external sensor 90 may be a camera which is disposed toward the
front side of a vehicle. At this time, the external sensor 90 may
collect the external information of the front side of a vehicle,
specifically image information.
[0203] The existence of oncoming vehicles approaching from the
front side of the vehicle, the position of the oncoming vehicle,
the speed of the oncoming vehicle, or the like may be included in
the external information collected by the external sensor 90.
[0204] The external information collected in the external sensor 90
may be sent to the control unit 9.
[0205] The control unit 9 is configured to control the light source
device 1 based on the external information collected at the
external sensor 90. For example, an ON-OFF state of the light
source 10 included in the light source device 1 may be
controlled.
[0206] As described above, the incident position of the incident
light on the reflective fluorescent body 4 according to the driving
of the scanning unit 80 may periodically change according to the
constant path.
[0207] When the incident position P of the incident light on the
reflective fluorescent body 4 is changed, the position of light
which is reflected from the reflective fluorescent body 4 and then
is emitted to the front side of the main lens 3 and the projection
lens 5 may be changed. In other words, the direction of the light
emitted to the front side of a vehicle may be periodically
changed.
[0208] In a scenario where the light emitted to the front side of a
vehicle is directed toward a driver of an oncoming vehicle, there
is a danger of causing an accident due to glare suffered by the
driver of the oncoming vehicle.
[0209] In a case where the light emitted to the front side of a
vehicle heads to the driver of the oncoming vehicle, the control
unit 9 causes the light source 10 to turn off, and in other cases,
the control unit 9 causes the light source 10 to turn on.
Accordingly, implementations described herein may address the glare
problems.
[0210] When the oncoming vehicle approaches from the front side of
the vehicle, the external sensor 90 may detect this by collecting
the external information.
[0211] The external information collected at the external sensor 90
is sent to the control unit 9 and thus the control unit 9 may
recognize the speed information and the position information of the
oncoming vehicle according to the sent external information.
[0212] When the position of the light emitted to the front side
heads to the oncoming vehicle recognized by the control unit 9
according to the drive of the scanning unit 80, the control unit 9
may turn off the light source 10.
[0213] Preferably, when the position of the light emitted to the
front side heads to the driver of the oncoming vehicle, control
unit 9 may turn off the light source 10.
[0214] When the light emitted to the front side of the vehicle does
not head the oncoming vehicle recognized by the control unit 9
according to the drive of the scanning unit 80, the control unit 9
may turn on the light source 10.
[0215] The control unit 9 may be control the scanning unit 80. More
specifically, the control unit 9 controls the external force
applied to the scanning unit 80 and thus may control the drive of
the scanning unit 80. For example, the drive of the scanning unit
80 may be controlled by controlling current flowing to the drive
coil wound around the scanning unit 80.
[0216] Since the scanning unit 80 may vibrate at a very fast speed,
the driver of the vehicle may not recognize the change of direction
of the light emitted to the front side of the vehicle and thus may
recognize as a whole the light emitted to front side of the
vehicle. In addition, as described above, only when the light
emitted from the front side of the vehicle heads in the specific
direction, the control unit 9 turns off the light source 10. In
other cases, in a case where the light source 10 turns on, the
driver of the vehicle may recognize that only a portion of the
light emitted to the front side of the vehicle is a dark
portion.
[0217] In some implementations, the lighting apparatus for a
vehicle may further include a third reflecting unit 6 which is
provided in a portion of the main lens 3 and reflects the light
reflected from the reflective fluorescent body 4 to the main lens 3
to the rear side of the main lens 3.
[0218] The light source 10 may be a laser diode and a blue based
laser beam having a high efficiency may be illuminated. However,
the emission of such a blue based laser beam from the vehicle
creates a risk that the blue based laser beam may damage the eye or
eyesight of persons outside the vehicle. In some implementations,
the lighting device may implement a fluorescent body configured to
convert a wavelength of the blue laser light into a white color
light.
[0219] However, in some scenarios, a light leakage phenomenon may
occur whereby some of the blue based laser beam is not converted
into the white based light at the fluorescent body and is instead
emitted to the front side of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle.
This light leakage phenomenon may still create a risk that emitted
blue based light may damage the eye or eyesight of a person.
[0220] In order to prevent the light leakage phenomenon, the third
reflecting unit 6 is configured to reflect, to the rear side of the
main lens 3, the blue based light which is surface-reflected
without undergoing the wavelength converting at the reflective
fluorescent body 4.
[0221] However, in some scenarios, the third reflecting unit 6 may,
in addition to reflecting the blue based beam of which the
wavelength is not changed, also reflect the white based light of
which the wavelength is changed. In such scenarios, when the white
based light is reflected to the rear side of the main lens 3 by the
third reflecting unit 6, the optical efficiency of the lighting
apparatus for a vehicle is reduced.
[0222] Accordingly, preferably, the third reflecting unit 6 has a
size and a position that sufficiently secures the optical emitting
area of the main lens 3 and is configured to reflect the blue based
beam surface reflected at the reflective fluorescent body 4 to the
rear side of the lens as much as possible.
[0223] The third reflecting unit 6 may constitute a single
reflecting unit by being connected to the first reflecting unit 21,
but preferably the third reflecting unit 6 is separately provided a
front surface 31 or rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 in order to
sufficiently ensure the light emitting area of the main lens 3.
[0224] The third reflecting unit 6 may be provided in the front
surface 31 of the main lens 3, or be provided in the rear surface
32 of the main lens 3.
[0225] The third reflecting unit 6 may have an arc shape as a
cross-sectional shape on the convex front surface 31 of the main
lens 3.
[0226] The third reflecting unit 6 may have a concave mirror formed
along the front surface 31 of the main lens 3 on the convex front
surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0227] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit 6
may be provided to be spaced apart with each other.
[0228] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit 6
may be provided symmetrically relative to the optical axis X of the
main lens 3.
[0229] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit 6
may be provided symmetrically to have a 180.degree. phase
difference to the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0230] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on the left area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3, the
third reflecting unit 6 may be provided on the right area in the
front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0231] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on the upper side area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3,
the third reflecting unit 6 may be provided on the lower side area
in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0232] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit 6
may be provided at the same distance from the optical axis X of the
main lens with each other or at the different distance from the
optical axis X of the lens from each other.
[0233] At the surface of the main lens 3, the curvature of a
portion thereof to which the first reflecting unit 21 and the third
reflecting unit 6 is attached may be the same with each other.
[0234] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit 6
may be a reflective coating layer coated on the portion other than
the optical axis X of the main lens 3 in the front surface 31 of
the main lens 3, respectively. The first reflecting unit 21 and the
third reflecting unit 6 may be a reflective sheet attached on the
portion other than the optical axis X of the main lens 3 in the
front surface 31 of the main lens 3, respectively.
[0235] The first reflecting unit 21 provided on the front surface
31 of the main lens 3 may reflect the light which is emitted from
the scanning module 8 and then is transmitted through the main lens
3 to the reflective fluorescent body 4. The light which is
reflected from reflective fluorescent body 4 may be reflected to
the main lens 3. A portion of light which is reflected from the
reflective fluorescent body 4 to the main lens 3 may be incident on
the third reflecting unit 6.
[0236] The light which is incident from the reflective fluorescent
body 4 on the third reflecting unit 6 may be reflected in the
direction of the main lens 3 by the third reflecting unit 6.
[0237] The light which is reflected to the rear direction of the
main lens 3 by the third reflecting unit 6 transmits through the
rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 and the light may be emitted in
the rear side of the main lens 3.
[0238] The third reflecting unit 6 may be configured to reduce the
light leak phenomenon by reducing the transmission, through an area
on which the third reflecting unit 6 of the main lens 3 is formed,
of the light which is surface-reflected without wavelength
conversion in the reflective fluorescent body 4. Instead, such
non-wavelength-converted light may be reflected by the third
reflecting unit 6 to the rear side of main lens 3.
[0239] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2. an operation of the
present implementation will be described.
[0240] Hereinafter, the light source 10 emits the blue based light
and the reflective fluorescent body 4 converts the wavelength of
the blue based light into the wavelength of the yellow based light
will be described, as an example. Further, the operation of the
third reflecting unit 6 is omitted since the operation is already
described above.
[0241] First, when the light source 10 included in the light source
device 1 turns on, the blue based light A may be emitted from the
light source 10 and the light path of the light A may be changed by
the light being reflected from the reflecting member 2.
[0242] The light B of which the light path is changed in the
reflecting member 11 may be reflected to the first light condensing
device 81.
[0243] The light C which is incident on the first light condensing
device 81 is condensed and then the light path of the light C may
be changed being reflected at the scanning unit 80, more
specifically the reflector 800.
[0244] The light D of which the light path is changed in the
scanning unit 80 may be reflected to the second light condensing
device 82.
[0245] The light E which is incident on the second light condensing
device 82 may condensed and then may be emitted toward the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0246] The light F which may be incident on the rear surface 32 of
the main lens 3 transmits through the main lens, be incident on the
first reflecting unit 21. The light being incident on the first
reflecting unit 21 may be reflected from the reflecting unit 21 to
the main lens 3.
[0247] The beam G reflected at the first reflecting unit 21 may be
reflected in the direction toward the optical axis X of the main
lens 3 by the first reflecting unit 21 and may refract at the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0248] The light H refracted at the rear surface of the main lens 3
may be incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0249] The light which is incident on the reflective fluorescent
body 4 may change the wavelength of the light by the reflective
fluorescent body 4. The white based light I in the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be reflected to the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3. The white based light I may be collected while
transmitting through the main lens 3. The white based light I may
transmit through the front surface 31 of the main lens 3 and then
may be incident on the projection lens 5 through the rear surface
52 of the projection lens 5.
[0250] The light J which is incident on the rear surface 52 of the
projection lens 5 is condensed at the projection lens 5 and then
may be emitted in parallel and this light J may be illuminated to
the front side of the vehicle.
[0251] FIG. 6 is a construction view illustrating a lighting
apparatus for a vehicle according to a second implementation.
[0252] Hereinafter, the detailed description to the same or the
similar construction as the construction described above will be
omitted. Accordingly, only different construction from the
construction described above will be described.
[0253] In the present implementation, the scanning unit 80 may
include the first light condensing device 81 and the scanning unit
80 and at the same time, may not include the second light
condensing device 82.
[0254] The light emitted from the scanning module 8 should have
straightness. If the light emitted from the scanning module 8
spreads out, optical loss may occur since a portion of the light
reach the first reflecting unit 2.
[0255] The second light condensing device 82 condenses the light
which is reflected from the scanning unit 80 and then spreads out
in the first implementation. However, the light which is reflected
from the scanning portion does not have to spread out since the
second light condensing device 82 is not included in the present
implementation. Therefore, the light which is incident on the
scanning module 80 should have straightness.
[0256] Since the light emitted from the light source device 1 has
straightness, if the first light condensing device 81 is not
included in the scanning module 8, the light which is incident on
the scanning unit 80 may have the straightness. However, in this
case, since the light which is incident on the scanning unit 80 is
not condensed and thus the size of the scanning unit 80 should be
large, compactness of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle is
unlikely to be achieved.
[0257] The first light condensing device 81 may be light reducer
which allows the size of the light emitted from the light source
device 1 to be reduces and then emits the light to the scanning
unit 80 so that the light which is incident on the scanning unit 80
has straightness.
[0258] In a case where the first light condensing device 81 is a
light reducer, the first light condensing device 81 may include a
first reducer lens 811 in which light width is reduced while the
light emitted from the light source device 1 transmits through the
first reducer lens 811 and a second reducer lens 812 which is
spaced apart from the first reducer lens 811 and in which light
width is reduced while the light emitted from the first reducer
lens 20 transmits through the second reducer lens 30.
[0259] The first reducer lens 811 and the second reducer lens 812
may be spaced apart having air between the first reducer lens 20
and the second reducer lens 30.
[0260] The first reducer lens 811 may be positioned between the
light source device 10 and the second reducer lens 812 and the
second reducer lens 812 may be positioned between the first reducer
lens 811 and the scanning unit 80.
[0261] The optical axis of the first reducer lens 811 and the
optical axis of the second reducer lens 812 may be the same each
other.
[0262] The size of the second reducer lens 812 may be smaller than
the size of the first reducer lens 811 in order to increase the
peripheral space utilization, since the light width is primarily
reduced at the first reducer lens 811.
[0263] While the light which is incident on the first light
condensing device 81 according to the construction has a
straightness as it is, the width of the light is reduced and then
emitted. In other words, since the light which is emitted from the
first light condensing device 81 and then is incident on the
scanning unit 80 has a sufficiently small width of the light while
having straightness, the size of the scanning unit may be reduced.
Accordingly, the lighting apparatus for a vehicle is made
compact.
[0264] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, an operation of the
present implementation having the construction as above will be
described.
[0265] First, when the light source 10 included in the light source
device 1 turns on, the blue based light A may be emitted from the
light source 10 and the light path of the light A may be changed by
the light A being reflected from the reflecting member 2.
[0266] The light B of which the light path is changed in the
reflecting member 11 may be reflected to the first light condensing
device 81.
[0267] The light C which is incident on the first light condensing
device 81 is condensed and then the light path of the light C may
be changed by the light C being reflected at the scanning unit 80.
More specifically, the width of the light which is incident on the
first reducer lens 811 is reduced and then the light may be emitted
toward the second reducer lens 812. The width of the light which is
incident on the second reducer lens 812 is reduced and then the
light may be emitted toward the scanning unit 80. The light which
is incident on the scanning unit 80 is reflected from the scanning
unit 80 and then the light path may be converted.
[0268] The light E of which the light path is converted at the
scanning unit 80 may be reflected toward the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 without an additional condensing.
[0269] The light F which is incident on the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 transmits through the main lens, be incident on the
first reflecting unit 21. The light being incident on the first
reflecting unit 21 may be reflected from the reflecting unit 21 to
the main lens 3.
[0270] The beam G reflected at the first reflecting unit 21 may be
reflected in the direction toward the optical axis X of the main
lens 3 by the first reflecting unit 21 and may be refracted at the
rear surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0271] The light H refracted at the rear surface 32 of the main
lens 3 may be incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0272] The light which is incident on the reflective fluorescent
body 4 may change the wavelength of the light by the reflective
fluorescent body 4. The white based light I in the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be reflected to the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 and be condensed while transmitted through the main
lens. The white based light I may transmit through the front
surface 31 of the main lens 3 and then may be incident on the
projection lens 5 through the rear surface 52 of the projection
lens 5.
[0273] The light J which is incident on the rear surface 52 of the
projection lens 5 is condensed at the projection lens 5 and then
may be emitted in parallel and this light J may be illuminated to
the front side of the vehicle.
[0274] In a case where the first light condensing device 81 which
is a light reducer is not included in the scanning module 8 and the
light reducer is further included in the light source device 1 by
changing the present implementation, this change is a simple design
change in which the position of the light reducer is changed from
between the scanning unit 80 and the reflecting member 11 to
between the light source 10 and the reflecting member 11.
Accordingly, it is apparent that this change is included within the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0275] In addition, it is apparent that the light reducer is
included in the light source device 1 and both the first light
condensing device 81 and the second light condensing device 82 is
included in the scanning module 8 is included within the scope of
the present disclosure.
[0276] FIG. 7 is a construction view illustrating a lighting
apparatus for a vehicle according to a third implementation, and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a light
path of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to the third
implementation.
[0277] Hereinafter, the detailed description to the same or the
similar construction as the construction described above will be
omitted. Accordingly, only different construction from the
construction described above will be described.
[0278] In some implementations, the lighting apparatus for a
vehicle may further include a secondary light source 100 which is
disposed in the rear side of the main lens 3 and a second
reflecting unit 22 which is provided in the main lens 3 and
reflects the light emitted from the secondary light source 100.
[0279] The secondary light source 100 is configured to emit the
blue based light like the light source 10.
[0280] The secondary light source 100 may be disposed on the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3 and may emit light toward the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0281] The secondary light source 100 may be disposed so as not to
intersect the optical axis of the main lens 3 and may emit light in
parallel to the optical axis X of the main lens 3.
[0282] The distance between the light source device 1 and the
secondary light source 100 is smaller than the diameter of the main
lens 3 for the compactness of the lighting apparatus for a
vehicle.
[0283] The light emitted from the secondary light source 100 is
incident on the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3, transmits
through the main lens 3 and then may be reflected from the first
reflecting unit 2.
[0284] The second reflecting unit 22 may be provided in a portion
of the front surface 31 or the rear surface 32 of the main lens
3.
[0285] The second reflecting unit 22 and the first reflecting unit
21 may have the same shape as each other.
[0286] The second reflecting unit 22 may constitute a single
reflecting unit by being connected to the first reflecting unit 21,
but preferably the second reflecting unit 22 is provided in a front
surface 31 or rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 in a separated
manner from the first reflecting unit 21 in order to sufficiently
ensure the light emitting area of the main lens 3.
[0287] The light which is emitted from the scanning module 8 and is
incident on the first reflecting unit 21 may change the incident
position at which the light is incident on the first reflecting
unit 21 according to the driving of the scanning unit 80. By
contrast, the light which is emitted from the secondary light
source 100 and is incident on the second reflecting unit 22 has a
constant incident position at which the light is incident on the
second reflecting unit 22. Accordingly, the second reflecting unit
22 may have a smaller size than the size of the first reflecting
unit 21.
[0288] The second reflecting unit 22 may be provided to reflect the
light emitted from the secondary light source 100 and then is
incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0289] The control unit 9 may be control the secondary light source
100. More specifically, ON-OFF of the secondary light source 100
may be controlled. For example, in a case where the front side of
the vehicle is too dark, according to external information
collected by the external sensor 90, the control unit 9 may turn on
the secondary light source 100. Alternatively, the control unit 9
may be turn on the secondary light source 100, according to the
operation of the driver of the vehicle.
[0290] A plurality of secondary light sources 100 and a plurality
of second reflecting units 22 corresponding thereto may be provided
in order to further brighten the light which is emitted to the
front side of the vehicle.
[0291] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7, an operation of the
present implementation having the construction as above will be
described as follow:
[0292] Since the path and the operation of the light emitted from
the light source device 1 may be same as the first implementation,
hereinafter, the path and the operation of the light emitted from
the secondary light source 100 is described.
[0293] First, when the secondary light source 100 turns on, the
blue based light K may be emitted from the light source 10 and the
light may be incident on the rear surface 32 of the main lens
3.
[0294] The light L which is incident on the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 transmits through the main lens 3 and is incident on
the second reflecting unit 22, and then may be reflected to the
main lens 3 at the second reflecting unit 22.
[0295] The beam M reflected at the second reflecting unit 22 may be
reflected in the direction toward the optical axis X of the main
lens 3 by the second reflecting unit 22 and may be refracted at the
rear surface 32 of the main lens 3.
[0296] The light N refracted at the rear surface of the main lens 3
may be incident on the reflective fluorescent body 4.
[0297] The light which is incident on the reflective fluorescent
body 4 may change the wavelength of the light by the reflective
fluorescent body 4. The white based light in the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be reflected to the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3. At this time, as like the first implementation, the
wavelength of the light H which is reflected from the first
reflecting unit 21 and then is incident on the reflective
fluorescent body 4 is converted in the reflective fluorescent body
4 and the white based light may be reflected in the rear surface 32
of the main lens 3. Accordingly, each of white based light may be
mixed and the mixed white based light I may be brighter.
[0298] The white based light I may be condensed while transmitting
through the main lens 3, transmit through the front surface 31 of
the main lens 3 and then may be incident on the projection lens 5
through the rear surface 52 of the projection lens 5.
[0299] The light J which is incident on the rear surface 52 of the
projection lens 5 is condensed at the projection lens 5 and then
may be emitted in parallel and this light J may be illuminated to
the front side of the vehicle.
[0300] Accordingly, the brightness of the light emitted to the
front side of a vehicle may be even brighter.
[0301] In the present implementation, the first reflecting unit 21
and the second reflecting unit 22 may be perform a light leakage
prevention feature between each other respectively.
[0302] The first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit
22 may be provided to be spaced apart with each other.
[0303] The first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit
22 may be provided symmetrically relative to the optical axis X of
the main lens 3.
[0304] The first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit
22 may be provided symmetrically to have a 180.degree. phase
difference to the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0305] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on the left area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3, the
second reflecting unit 22 may be provided on the right area in the
front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0306] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on the upper side area of the front surface 31 of the main lens 3,
the second reflecting unit 22 may be provided on the lower side
area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0307] The first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit
22 may be provided at the same distance from the optical axis X of
the main lens with each other or at the different distance from the
optical axis X of the lens with each other.
[0308] At the surface of the main lens 3, the curvature of a
portion thereof to which the first reflecting unit 21 and the
second reflecting unit 22 is attached may be the same with each
other.
[0309] More specifically, a portion of the blue based light which
is emitted from the scanning module 8, is reflected from the first
reflecting unit 21, and is incident on the reflective fluorescent
body 4 is not converted the wavelength and may be surface-reflected
from the surface of the reflective fluorescent body 4. At this
time, the blue based light surface-reflected may be incident on the
rear surface 32 of the main lens 3, transmits through the main
lens, and be reflected to rear side of the main lens.
[0310] This light may be emitted from the secondary light source
100 and then may be interfere with the light which is incident on
the second reflecting unit 22. However, since the light does not
have a physical reality, the light does not affect each other. In
other words, there is no problem regarding feature implementation
of the lighting apparatus for a vehicle.
[0311] Further, a portion of the blue based light which is emitted
from the secondary light source 100, is reflected from the second
reflecting unit 22, and is incident on the reflective fluorescent
body 4 is not converted the wavelength and may be surface-reflected
from the surface of the reflective fluorescent body. At this time,
the blue based light surface-reflected may be incident on the rear
surface 32 of the main lens 3, transmits through the main lens, and
be reflected from the first reflecting unit 21 to rear side of the
main lens 3.
[0312] In other words, the first reflecting unit 21 and the second
reflecting unit 22 may perform a light leakage prevention feature
between each other respectively. Accordingly, according to some
implementations, the light leakage phenomenon may be prevented,
while an additional third reflecting unit 6 is not provided.
[0313] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a
light path of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a
fourth implementation, and FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically
illustrating a light path of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle
according to the fourth implementation.
[0314] Hereinafter, the detailed description to the same or the
similar construction as the construction described above will be
omitted. Accordingly, only different construction from the
construction described above will be described.
[0315] In the present implementation, the lighting apparatus for a
vehicle further includes a third reflecting unit 6 which is
provided in a portion of the surface of the main lens 3 and
reflects a portion of the light reflected from the reflective
fluorescent body 4 to the main lens 3 to the rear side of the main
lens 3. More specifically, the third reflecting units 6a and 6b
corresponding to the each of the first reflecting unit 21 and the
second reflecting unit 22 may be provided in a portion of the
surface of the main lens 3.
[0316] The positions of the first reflecting unit 21 and the second
reflecting unit 22 are dependent on each other so that the first
reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit 22 perform the
light leakage prevention feature with each other, like the third
implementation described above. In other words, the position of
each of the first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit
22 does not independently determine. In addition, the position of
each of the scanning module 8 and the secondary light source 100
which emit the light to the first reflecting unit 21 and the second
reflecting unit 22 does not independently determined.
[0317] According to the present implementation, the position of
each of the first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit
22 is configured to be independently determined. Accordingly, the
position of each of the scanning module 8 and the secondary light
source 100 may be freely determined and then disposed.
[0318] Further, the detecting unit 7 to be described below may be
disposed on the rear side of the third reflecting members 6a, 6b.
Hereinafter, regarding this, the detailed description will be
described.
[0319] The third reflecting units 6a and 6b may be provided in a
portion of the surface of the main lens 3 to the first reflecting
unit 21 or the second reflecting unit 22.
[0320] Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the third reflecting
units 6a and 6b may be provided to the first reflecting unit 21 and
the second reflecting unit 22. As such, the third reflecting unit
6a corresponding to the first reflecting unit 21 and the other
third reflecting unit 6b corresponding to the second reflecting
unit 22 may be provided in a portion of the surface of the main
lens 3. Hereinafter, this case will be described, as an
example.
[0321] The third reflecting units 6a and 6b is connected to the
first reflecting unit 21 or the second reflecting unit 22 and thus
may constitute a single reflecting unit. However, in order to
sufficiently obtain the light emitting area of the main lens 3, the
first reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit 22 are
provided on the front surface 31 and the rear surface 32 of the
main lens 3 in a separated manner from each other,
respectively.
[0322] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit
6a corresponding thereto may be provided symmetrically relative to
the optical axis X of the main lens 3. The second reflecting unit
22 and the third reflecting unit 6b corresponding thereto may be
provided symmetrically relative to the optical axis X of the main
lens 3.
[0323] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit
6a corresponding thereto may be provided symmetrically to have a
180.degree. phase difference to the front surface 31 of the main
lens 3. The second reflecting unit 22 and the third reflecting unit
6b corresponding thereto may be provided symmetrically to have a
180.degree. phase difference to the front surface 31 of the main
lens 3.
[0324] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on the left area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3, the
third reflecting unit 6a corresponding thereto may be provided on
the right area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3.
[0325] In a case where the first reflecting unit 21 may be provided
on the upper side area in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3,
the third reflecting unit 6a corresponding thereto may be provided
on the lower side area in the front surface 31 of the main lens
3.
[0326] In a case where the second reflecting unit 22 may be
provided on the left area of the front surface 31 of the main lens
3, the third reflecting unit 6b corresponding thereto may be
provided on the right area in the front surface 31 of the main lens
3.
[0327] In a case where the second reflecting unit 22 may be
provided on the upper side area of the front surface 31 of the main
lens 3, the third reflecting unit 6b corresponding thereto may be
provided on the lower side area of the front surface 31 of the main
lens 3.
[0328] The first reflecting unit 21 and the third reflecting unit
6a corresponding thereto may be provided at the same distance from
the optical axis X of the main lens with each other or at the
different distance from the optical axis X of the main lens 3 with
each other. The second reflecting unit 22 and the third reflecting
unit 6b corresponding thereto may be provided at the same distance
from the optical axis X of the main lens with each other or at the
different distance from the optical axis X of the main lens 3 with
each other.
[0329] At the surface of the main lens 3, the curvature of a
portion thereof to which the first reflecting unit 21 and the third
reflecting unit 6a corresponding thereto is attached may be the
same with each other. At the surface of the main lens 3, the
curvature of a portion thereof to which the second reflecting unit
22 and the third reflecting unit 6b corresponding thereto is
attached may be the same with each other.
[0330] The first reflecting unit 21, the second reflecting unit 22,
and the third reflecting units 6a and 6b may include a reflective
coating layer coated on the portion other than the optical axis X
of the main lens 3 in the front surface 31 of the main lens 3,
respectively. The first reflecting unit 21, the second reflecting
unit 22, and the third reflecting units 6a and 6b may include a
reflective sheet attached to the portion other than the optical
axis X of the main lens 3 in the front surface 31 of the main lens
3, respectively.
[0331] The first reflecting unit 21 provided on the front surface
31 of the main lens 3 may reflect the light which is emitted from
the scanning module 8 and then is transmitted through the main lens
3 to the reflective fluorescent body 4. The light which is
reflected at the reflective fluorescent body 4 may be transmitted
through the main lens 3. A portion of light which is reflected from
the reflective fluorescent body 4 to the main lens 3 may be
incident on the third reflecting unit 6a corresponding to the first
reflecting unit 21. In particular, the blue based light
surface-reflected without wavelength conversion at the reflective
fluorescent body 4 may be incident on the third reflecting unit
6a.
[0332] The second reflecting unit 22 provided on the front surface
31 of the main lens 3 may reflect the light which is emitted from
the secondary light source then is transmitted through the main
lens 3 to the reflective fluorescent body 4. The light which is
reflected at the reflective fluorescent body 4 may transmit through
the main lens 3. A portion of light which is reflected from the
reflective fluorescent body 4 to the main lens 3 may be incident on
the third reflecting unit 6b corresponding to the second reflecting
unit 22. In particular, the blue based light surface-reflected
without wavelength conversion at the reflective fluorescent body 4
may be incident on the third reflecting unit 6b.
[0333] The light which is incident from the reflective fluorescent
body 4 to the third reflecting units 6a and 6b may be reflected in
the rear direction of the main lens 3 by the third reflecting units
6a and 6b.
[0334] The light which is reflected in the rear direction of the
main lens 3 by the third reflecting units 6a and 6b transmits
through the rear surface 32 of the main lens 3 and the light may be
emitted in the rear side of the main lens 3.
[0335] FIG. 11 is a construction view illustrating an light path of
a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a fifth
implementation.
[0336] Hereinafter, the detailed description to the same or the
similar construction as the construction described above will be
omitted. Accordingly, only different construction from the
construction described above will be described.
[0337] The present implementation may further include a detecting
unit 7 which detects light which is reflected to the rear side of
the main lens 3 at the third reflecting unit 6 and the control unit
9 is configured to control the light source 10 according to the
detecting value of the detecting unit 7.
[0338] Since the other construction and operation other than the
detecting unit 7 are same or similar to those of the first
implementation, they use the same numeral reference and the
detailed description regarding them is omitted.
[0339] The detecting unit 7 may be disposed on the rear side of the
main lens 3.
[0340] The detecting unit 7 may be disposed outside of the optical
axis X of the main lens 3.
[0341] The detecting unit 7 may be disposed on the rear side of the
area on which the third reflecting unit 6 of the main lens 3 is
attached.
[0342] The detecting unit 7 may include a first filter 71 through
which a blue light is transmitted, a first optical sensor 72 which
detects light which transmits through the first filter 71, a second
filter 73 which blocks the blue light, and a second optical sensor
74 which detects light which transmits through the second filter
73.
[0343] The present implementation may further include a third
filter 78 which is disposed in the front side of the first filter
71 and the second filter 73 and detects light which is towards the
first filter 71 and the second filter 73.
[0344] The control unit 9 may allow the light source 10 to be
turned off when the control unit 9 detects light which is more than
the reference value in the first optical sensor 72. The control
unit 9 may allow the light source device 10 to be turned off when
the control unit 9 detects light which is equal to and less than
the reference value in the second optical sensor 74 or does not
detect the light in the second optical sensor 74.
[0345] When the light which is more than the reference value is
detected at the first optical sensor 72, it may mean that the
reflective fluorescent body 4 does not converted the blue based
light into the white based light. In this case, the light source 10
may be turned off in order not to emit the blue based light in the
front side of the vehicle.
[0346] Further, when the light which is equal to and less than the
reference value is detected or when the light is not detected in
the second optical sensor 74, it may be meant that the reflective
fluorescent body 4 does not normally functioned. In this case, the
light source 10 may be turned off in order not to emit the blue
based light in the front side of the vehicle.
[0347] FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a
light path of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle according to a
sixth implementation, and FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically
illustrating an light path of a lighting apparatus for a vehicle
according to the sixth implementation.
[0348] The lighting apparatus for a vehicle may include a first
detecting unit 7a and a second detecting unit 7b which detect the
light which is reflected to the rear side of the main lens 3 in the
third reflecting units 6a and 6b corresponding to each of the first
reflecting unit 21 and the second reflecting unit 22, respectively.
The control unit 9 may control each of the light source 10 and the
secondary light source 100 according to the detecting value of the
first detecting unit 7a and the second detecting unit 7b.
[0349] Since the other construction and operation other than the
detecting unit 7 are same or similar to those of the fourth
implementation and the construction and operation of the detecting
unit 7 are same or similar to those of the fifth implementation,
they use the same numeral reference and the detailed description
regarding them is omitted.
[0350] The detecting unit 7 may be disposed on the rear side of the
area to which the third reflecting unit 6 of the main lens 3 is
attached. More specifically, the first detecting unit 7a may be
disposed on the rear side of the area to which the third reflecting
unit 6a corresponding to the first reflecting unit 2 of the main
lens 3 is attached. The second detecting unit 7b may be disposed on
the rear side of the area to which the third reflecting unit 6a
corresponding to the second reflecting unit 22 of the main lens 3
is attached.
[0351] The first detecting unit 7a and the second detecting unit 7b
may include a first filter 71 through which a blue light is
transmitted, a first optical sensor 72 which detects light which
transmits through the first filter 71, a second filter 73 which
blocks the blue light, and a second optical sensor 74 which detects
light which transmits through the second filter 73,
respectively.
[0352] The present implementation may further include a third
filter 78 which is disposed on the first filter 71 and the second
filter 73 and detects light which is towards the first filter 71
and the second filter 73.
[0353] The control unit 9 may allow the light source device 10 to
be turned off when the control unit 9 detects light which is more
than the reference value in the first optical sensor 72 of the
first detecting unit 7a. The control unit 9 may allow the light
source 10 to be turned off when the control unit 9 does detect
light which is equal to and less than the reference value or when
the light is not detected, in the second optical sensor 74 of the
first detecting unit 7a.
[0354] The control unit 9 may allow the secondary light source 100
to be turned off when the control unit 9 detects light which is
more than the reference value in the first optical sensor 72 of the
second detecting unit 7b. The control unit 9 may allow the
secondary light source 100 to be turned off when the control unit 9
does not detect light which is equal to and less than the reference
value or when the light is not detected, in the second optical
sensor 74 of the second detecting unit 7b.
[0355] When the light which is more than the reference value is
detected at the first optical sensor 72, it may mean that the
reflective fluorescent body 4 does not converted the blue based
light into the white based light. In this case, the light source 10
and/or the secondary light source 100 may be turned off so that the
blue based light is not emitted in the front side of a vehicle.
[0356] Further, when the light which is less than the reference
value is detected or the light is not detected in the second
optical sensor 74, it may be meant that the reflective fluorescent
body 4 does not normally functioned. In this case, the light source
10 and/or the secondary light source 100 may be turned off so that
the blue based light is not emitted in the front side of a
vehicle.
[0357] Although implementations have been described with reference
to a number of illustrative implementations thereof, it should be
understood that numerous other modifications and implementations
can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within
the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure.
[0358] Accordingly, implementations disclosed above are for
illustrating but not for limiting the technical scope of the
present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirits of the
present disclosure is not limited by the implementations
disclosed.
[0359] In addition, the scope of the present invention should be
construed by the following claims.
* * * * *